Features

Provides specific examples of how discovery and innovation occurred, along with sections describing biographical, historical, or political/economic background pertaining to the particular subject

Puts the chemical material in a broader context, such as by relating fuel use to global warming, food production to obesity, drug availability to economic and regulatory factors, etc.

Covers many topics that have received little attention to date

Summary

This fascinating new volume provides a comprehensive yet concise overview of the chemical aspects of some of the major innovations and changes that occurred during the 20th century, relating chemical structures and properties to real-life applications.

Developed for a course taught by the author for several years at UVA, the author covers the important and consequential developments in chemistry and explains their everyday, real-life applications. These include such topics as consumer products, fossil fuel use, polymers, agriculture, food production, nutrition, explosives, and drugs. The section Molecular Biology and Its Applications includes examples of the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering. The book answers such questions as

• What does "octane number" mean?

• What is "Spandex"?

• What are all the ingredients in my frozen pizza and why are they there?

• What is in my favorite headache remedy and how does it work?

• How can medications affect mental outlook and function?

• How are genetically modified organisms obtained and how are they used?

Broad in scope, The Chemical Century provides understandable examples of discoveries and their applications along with brief anecdotal information on some to the major contributors and the circumstances under which the discoveries were made. Interspersed in most of the chapters are brief summaries discoveries. These sections include a variety of biographical, historical, or political/economic background pertaining to the particular subject.

The major economic, environmental, and regulatory aspects are touched upon as well. For example, the book considers hydrocarbon fuels and their role in global warming; the issue of residues in foods; and multi-drug resistance and antibiotics.

There is little detailed chemistry, but the material is clear in describing chemical structures and in relating those structures to the properties of the materials. The book includes numerous figures and tables to illustrate and convey complicated information. Many chemical structures, including about 50 schemes with multiple structures, are clearly and simply presented as well.

Table of Contents

POWER FROM MOLECULES

Explosives and Propellants: Power to Breach Mountains, Wage War, and Visit the Moon

Structures of Explosives and Propellants

Production of Explosives and Propellants

Military Applications of Explosives and Propellants

Rocket Engines for Space Exploration

Other Uses of Explosives and Propellants

Explosives and Terrorism

Hydrocarbons as Fuels and Petrochemicals: Shaping the Past; Dominating the Present; Complicating the Future

Author(s) Bio

Richard C. Sundberg, PhD, is a Professor of Chemistry at theUniversity of Virginia and has been teaching for 50 years. He was a Fulbright Scholar (France) in 1978–79, and he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the University of Minnesota in 2001. He has published about 100 research papers and five monographs in the area of heterocyclic organic compounds and has directed 25 PhD theses. His past books include Advanced Organic Chemistry (all editions) (co-authored with Francis A. Carey), Springer; Indoles, Best Synthetic Methods, Academic Press, 1996; and The Chemistry of Indoles, Academic Press, 1970.

What does "CPD Certified" mean?

CPD consists of any educational activity which helps to maintain and develop knowledge, problem-solving, and technical skills with the aim to provide better health care through higher standards. It could be through conference attendance, group discussion or directed reading to name just a few examples.

Use certain CRC Press medical books to get your CPD points up for revalidation. We provide a free online form to document your learning and a certificate for your records.